Charles whiteman



(NoModeL) C. WHITEMAN.

GATE LATCH. No. 569,904. Patented 0071i. 20, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT Ornicn.-

CHARLES VHITEMAN, OF RUGBY, ENGLAND.

GATE-LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 569,904, dated October 20, 1896. Application filed July 27,1896. Serial No. 600,670. (No model.) Patented in England J'une l, 1894, No. 10,622.

' To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES lVHITEMAN, machinist, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Church Lawford, Rugby, in the county of Warwick, England, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Gate-Fastener, of which the following is a specification, and for which invention I have obtained Letters Patent of Great Britain, dated June l, 1894, No. 10,622.

This invention relates to an improved gatefastener which is operated or placed into its fastening position by the act of closing the gate.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings represents in front elevation with a part in section my improved gate fastener' and the means for attaching the same to a gate-post. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the fastener secured to the striking-post of a gate and in the position which it assumes wh-en the gate is open, t'. e., with the lower end of the hinged frame, which carries the fastening-loop, projecting into the path ofv the gate, so that the said gate in closing strikes against the said projecting end and forces the frame into a vertical position, and thus jerks the looselypivoted upper frame or fastening-loop over the top of a gate-head. Fig. 3 is a like view as Fig. 2, but with the parts in the positions they assume when the gate is closed. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the fastener just before the gate is closed, and Fig. 5 is a like view showing the gate closed and the upper frame of the fastener embracing the gatehead.

The same letters of reference-indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The fastener consists of a bottom frame a, pivotedly mounted upon the transverse rod a', which is fastened to the striking-post b of a gate by an attachment-plate c and eyeended screw c or by any other convenient means. An adjacent part of the strikingpost is recessed at b to receive the lower part a? of the frame ct when the gate is closed,

while the said post is also obliquely recessed at its inner corners b2 to admit of the said framing taking an inclined position in order that its lower end may project into the path of the closing gate. Pivoted at d3 to the upper ends of the sides of the lower frame is a top frame or fastening-loop d, having stops or shoulders d@ formed adjacent to the joints, which come against the projections d4 on the lower frame and retain the said top fraine in the proper inclined position.

Then the gate is opened clear of the striking-post, the weight of the top frame of the fastener causes the bottom frame to turn upon its pivot d and its lower end to project outwardly into the path of the closing gate, (see Fig. 2,) with the upper parts of the sides lying within the corner or like clearances b2 and being prevented from turning too far backward thereby. The fastening-loop or looselyhinged upper frame is retained at an angle of about forty-tive degrees, (which is essential in order to insure the eiciency of the fastening,) either by the shoulders CZ coming against the projections at or by the said frame resting against the suitably-inclined top b3 of the gate-post.

On the gate closing the same strikes the projecting part of the lower frame and throws it into a vertical position with parts lying within the recesses b in the faceof the striking-post, as seen in Fig. 3, and this rapid movement jerks the fastening-loop CZ forwardly in the direction of the arrow x, (shown in Fig. 2,) so that it falls over the head c of a gate and automatically fastens the same.

The action occurs just the same whether the gate closes quickly or slowly, and the fastener can readily be opened by persons on horseback by means of a hunting-crop or the like. Further, the use of objectionable projections likely to catch ariders leg or injure a horses side in passing through a gate is dispensed with, and the fastening is not rendered ineffectual by the gate dropping, whereas in ordinary fastenings if the gate falls an inch only it requires to be first lifted before it can be fastened.

Having fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is- A gate-fastenerconsisting of @hinged lowel` In testimony whereof I have hereunto set' frame with a fastening-loop pivoted to its upnly hand in presence of two subscribing Witpel1 part which said lower frame is eounternesses.

poised and caused to project into the path of 5 a, closing' gate by the Weight of the said fas- Ttnessesz neming-loop, or upper frame, substantially as HENRY SKERRETT, described and set forth. l ARTHUR T. SADLER.

)HARLES VVI-IITEM AN. 

